Ben Carter
Candles are a popular gift choice, and screen printing on candles or candle holders is a great way to add a unique, thoughtful touch. You can print any image, text, or design onto tissue paper and transfer it onto a candle using heat and wax paper. Alternatively, you can use a stencil and screen-printing acrylics to create a design directly on a glass candle holder. This method is also suitable for curved surfaces like wine glasses and bottles.
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What You'll Learn
Printing on candle wax
Firstly, you will need to decide on an image or text that you would like to transfer onto your candle. This can be in colour or black ink. Adjust the size of the image as needed before printing it, ensuring it will fit on the candle. Then, print the image or text onto a piece of tissue paper. It is important to use white or light-coloured tissue paper so that the image is visible when printed. Cut the tissue paper to a size of 10.5 by 13 inches (27 by 33 cm), with enough excess paper to fold over each edge of a piece of printer paper. Centre the printer paper on the tissue paper and fold over the edges. Insert the printer paper with the attached tissue paper into your printer, with the tissue paper side facing up.
After printing, use a sharp pair of scissors to cut along the outer edges of the image, removing any excess tissue paper. Place the printed tissue paper on the candle and arrange it where you want it to be applied. Then, lay a sheet of wax paper over the tissue paper, with the wax side down. Secure the wax paper with clips to keep it in place.
Use a blow dryer to apply even heat to the entire area where the tissue paper is. Keep the blow dryer moving so that the wax does not drip. Once the image starts to get bright and shiny, turn off the blow dryer and carefully peel away the wax paper. The image should now be melted into the candle wax and still visible. Let the candle cool at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before touching the image, as the wax may still be soft.
With this method, you can create beautiful photo decorations for your home or personalised gifts for special occasions.
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Printing on candle holders
Prepare Your Materials:
You will need a glass candle holder, an EZScreen stencil (either a pre-made design or a custom stencil you create yourself), screen printing acrylic or regular acrylic mixed with a screen printing medium, and a brush.
Prepare the Stencil:
Lightly spray the EZScreen stencil with a repositionable adhesive to prevent it from sliding around the glass surface of the candle holder. Ensure that the stencil is free of any creases before proceeding to the next step.
Apply the Stencil:
Carefully wrap the stencil around the glass candle holder, making sure it adheres smoothly to the surface. Take your time with this step to ensure that the design transfers accurately.
Paint:
Using a brush, apply thick acrylic ink through the stencil onto the glass surface. You can use screen printing acrylic or create your own mixture by combining regular acrylic paint with a screen printing medium.
Peel and Rinse:
Once you've covered the design with paint, gently peel back the stencil from the glass. Rinse the stencil to clean it and prevent any paint buildup.
Dry:
Allow the painted candle holder to dry completely. This step is crucial to ensure that your design sets properly and doesn't smudge.
Enjoy Your Customised Candle Holder:
Now you can admire your handiwork! Your printed candle holder is ready to display and enjoy. This technique is perfect for creating personalised decorations or gifts for any occasion.
Remember to take your time and follow the steps carefully for the best results. With this method, you can easily add your own creative touch to plain candle holders and make them truly unique.
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Using a stencil
Before applying the stencil, lightly spray it with repositionable adhesive to keep it from moving around. This is especially important if you're working on a smooth surface like glass. Once the stencil is in place, you can start applying the paint. Use a thick acrylic ink and a brush to push the ink through the stencil. You can use screen printing acrylic or mix regular acrylic with a screen printing medium.
After you've covered the design with ink, gently peel back the stencil and rinse it out. This will help to prevent any smudging or bleeding of the ink. Let the candle holder dry completely before handling it or adding any additional decorations. The drying time may vary depending on the type of ink and surface you're working on.
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Printing on candle jars
Choose the Right Printing Method
Screen printing is a popular method for printing on candle jars. While it is possible to screen print on candle jars, it may require specialised equipment, such as a cylinder press or a manual printer, which can be challenging to source. An alternative method is to use stencils and paint. Stencils can be wrapped around the candle jar, and then paint is applied using a brush. This method is more accessible and budget-friendly, but may not offer the same level of precision as screen printing.
Prepare Your Design
Before printing on candle jars, ensure you have a well-designed logo or artwork that represents your brand or the theme of your candle. Consider the size and shape of the candle jar and how your design will fit and wrap around it. You may need to adjust the size of your design or create a layout that works with the curvature of the jar. Keep in mind that simpler designs are often more effective on curved surfaces.
Choose the Right Ink
When printing on candle jars, it is important to use the right type of ink. Acrylic ink is a popular choice for screen printing on glass and other curved surfaces. You can use screen printing acrylic or mix regular acrylic with a screen printing medium. The ink should be thick enough to ensure good coverage and adhesion to the jar.
Apply the Design
If you are using the screen printing method, you will need to set up your screen printing equipment and ensure that the screen aligns correctly with the curvature of the jar. Secure the jar in place to avoid any smudging during the printing process. If using stencils, ensure that the stencil is wrapped smoothly around the jar and secured in place with adhesive to prevent sliding.
Drying and Curing
Once you have applied the ink or paint, allow the candle jars to dry thoroughly. The drying time may vary depending on the type of ink used and the environmental conditions. Ensure that the printed candle jars are handled with care during the drying process to avoid smudging or damage to the design.
Finishing Touches
After the ink has dried completely, you can add any final touches, such as a protective coating to enhance the durability of the print. Ensure that the printed candle jars are handled with care during packaging and shipping to avoid any scratches or damage to the design.
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Printing with a hairdryer
Firstly, cut a piece of white or pastel-coloured tissue paper to 10.5 by 13 inches (27 by 33 cm). This will ensure there is enough tissue paper to fold over each edge of a piece of printer paper. Center the printer paper on the tissue paper and fold over the edges, securing the tissue paper with tape. Insert the printer paper with the attached tissue paper into your printer, with the tissue paper side facing up. Adjust the size of the image as needed before printing.
After printing, use scissors to cut along the outer edges of the image, removing any excess tissue paper. Place a piece of wax paper over the printed tissue paper. Position the tissue paper on the candle and use a hairdryer on low heat to heat the entire image and transfer it onto the candle. Switch to high heat if necessary, but be aware that this may cause the wax to blow everywhere. Once the image has been transferred, carefully peel away the wax paper. The image should be melted into the candle wax but still visible. Allow the candle to cool at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before touching the image, as the wax may still be soft.
You can avoid the issue of bubbling by cutting off any excess tissue paper and allowing the image to melt into the candle for a little longer. When burning the candle for the first time, let it burn for about an hour until a liquid wax basin forms, reaching about half an inch from the candle edge. Blow out the candle and let the wax harden. From then on, the candle will only melt to the edge of the well and will not come into contact with the tissue paper.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a candle, tissue paper, wax paper, a printer, scissors, a blow dryer, and an image or text that you want to transfer.
First, cut out a piece of white tissue paper to 10.5 by 13 inches (27 by 33 cm). Then, centre a piece of printer paper on the tissue paper and fold over the edges. Insert the printer paper with the tissue paper attached, tissue paper side facing up, into your printer. Finally, print your image or text in colour or black ink.
Lay your printed tissue paper on the candle and arrange it where you want it to be applied. Then, lay a sheet of wax paper over the tissue paper, wax side down, and secure it with clips. Using a blow dryer, apply even heat to the entire area. Once the image starts to get bright and shiny, remove the heat and carefully peel away the wax paper.
Sublimation is a multi-step process where images and artwork are taped onto an item, preheated, and then fully heated (or sublimated) onto the candle. Screen printing, on the other hand, involves using stencils and applying ink through them.
Yes, it is possible to screen print on candle jars. However, most screen printers do not have a cylinder press, so you may need to use vinyl+armour etch or vinyl+paint for simple designs.
